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Raw Feeding Calculator

How much raw food does your dog need each day? This calculator works out a starting amount from your dog's calorie needs and the calories on your raw food's label.

Commercial raw foods list this on the package or the maker's website. Raw foods vary a lot, so we don't use an average.

Before you feed raw: the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee recommends against raw meat diets, and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association says their health risks outweigh any claimed benefits, including bacteria that can sicken people in your home. If you feed raw, choose a product labelled complete and balanced, handle it like raw meat, and talk to your vet. Large breed puppies are especially at risk of bone problems on raw, boneless meat diets (Merck Veterinary Manual).

Senior dogs: no veterinary source publishes a separate senior factor, so use the row that fits your dog now. Many older dogs need less as they slow down, and some lose weight and muscle and need more. Weigh every 2 to 4 weeks and adjust.

Working or sport dogs: needs vary too widely for one formula (from about 1.6 to 11 times resting energy, per AAHA). Ask your vet for a target.

BARF vs. Prey Model at a Glance

BARF Model

70% muscle meat, 10% bone, 10% organ (5% liver), 5% vegetables, 5% fruit. This model was popularized by Dr. Ian Billinghurst and includes plant matter for fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. Good for dogs that do well with some plant material in their diet.

Prey Model

80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 10% organ (5% liver). This model mimics what a wild canine would eat -- whole prey animals without plant material. Simpler to prepare and source. Works well for dogs with sensitivities to certain vegetables or fruits.

Adjusting Portions by Life Stage

Puppies

Growing puppies need more food for their size, and the amount changes as they grow. Work out amounts and diet balance with your vet or a veterinary nutritionist, weigh weekly, and split food into 3-4 meals a day while young.

Adults

The calculator uses the Merck Veterinary Manual's factors: 1.8 times resting energy for intact adults, 1.6 for spayed or neutered, 1.4 for dogs that gain weight easily. Working and sport dogs vary too much for one formula; ask your vet.

Seniors

No veterinary source publishes a separate senior factor. Use the adult row that fits your dog now, weigh every 2 to 4 weeks, and adjust: many older dogs need less, and some lose muscle and need more.

Want to check your dog's body condition?

Make sure your raw portions are keeping your dog at an ideal weight.

Body Condition Score

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between BARF and Prey Model raw feeding?
BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) includes 70% muscle meat, 10% raw bone, 10% organ meat (half of which should be liver), 5% vegetables, and 5% fruit. Prey Model skips the plant matter entirely -- 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, and 10% organ. BARF supporters believe dogs benefit from the fiber and micronutrients in plants. Prey Model advocates argue dogs have no biological need for plant material. Neither ratio comes from a veterinary source, and a home-made mix is hard to balance, so if you feed raw, a commercial food labelled complete and balanced is the safer choice.
How much raw food should a puppy eat per day?
Ask your vet or a veterinary nutritionist. Puppies need more food for their size than adults, but how much changes quickly with age and expected adult size, and the balance of the diet matters as much as the amount: too much or too little calcium can harm growing bones, especially in large breeds. We removed the puppy option from this calculator while a vet reviews it. Weigh your puppy every week or two and feed 3 to 4 meals a day while they are young.
What bones are safe for raw feeding?
Raw meaty bones like chicken necks, duck necks, chicken backs, turkey necks, and lamb ribs are generally safe. The bone should be soft enough that your dog can crunch through it -- not weight-bearing bones from large animals (no beef femurs or marrow bones). Never feed cooked bones of any kind. They splinter and can cause serious internal injuries. Getting calcium right in a home-made raw diet is difficult, and large breed puppies are especially at risk of bone problems on raw, boneless meat diets (Merck Veterinary Manual), so ask your vet or a veterinary nutritionist.
Do I need to add supplements to a raw diet?
A properly balanced raw diet covering muscle meat, bone, organ (including liver), and variety across protein sources should meet most nutritional needs. However, many raw feeders add fish oil for omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E as an antioxidant, and kelp for trace minerals. If you are not feeding fish regularly, an omega-3 supplement is a good idea. If your dog does not get much sunlight, consider vitamin D. Work with a veterinary nutritionist if you want to be thorough.
Is raw feeding safe? What about bacteria like salmonella?
Veterinary bodies say the risks are real. The WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee recommends that raw meat diets not be fed to dogs, and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association says the evidence of health risks outweighs any claimed benefits. The US FDA found raw pet food more likely to carry disease-causing bacteria, which can make people in your home sick as well as your dog. If you feed raw anyway, choose a product labelled complete and balanced, use dedicated boards and bowls, wash hands and surfaces after handling, keep it frozen or refrigerated, and talk to your vet, especially if anyone in your home is very young, elderly, pregnant or has a weak immune system.